Onion prices are again on the rise causing much worry to the common man. But the high prices are not so uniform across the different stat...

Thursday, November 7, 2013

'Assam Rape Fest' story in US media triggers row

An American news satire website's play of words and comment on the security of women in India, and particularly in Assam, has evoked sharp criticism from netizens. Social media is abuzz with reactions - many believing the satire to be "true news" - after the website published a report headlined, 'The Assam Rape Festival In India Begins This Week' on November 3.

The report, first published on NationalReport.net, which claims to be America's Number 1 independent news team, was widely shared on social media. The report was later picked up by many websites and forums. With the frenzy snowballing, a few others tried to explain that the report was indeed a satire although it was not written anywhere on the website that it publishes fake news.

On Thursday, Assam criminal investigation department registered a suo motu case against the website for posting the defamatory article.

Commenting on Facebook, Arindom Phukan pointed out that the website had nowhere mentioned that the story was a satire. Ironically, the report was shared more than 89,500 times on Facebook and around 1,000 times on Twitter. "Men in India are already beginning to celebrate as the annual Assam Rape Festival is just days away. Every non-married girl age 7-16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped," the write-up said.

Commenting on the post, one Terrance believed that the report was true and went on to write, "India is always raping something. Makes me sick!"

Cursing the male gender, one Hannah wrote, "God have mercy on these innocent women... what kind of tradition is this. All you have to know is that God is watching you and you are going to pay for your sins."

Giving the link to the 'news story', the NationalReport posted on Facebook, "We would recommend foreign travelers avoid #India this week during the #AssamRapeFestival! Don't say we didn't warn you!" The Facebook page also claims itself to be one of the 'most accurate news' on the web.

Web archives shows that NationalReport's now deleted disclaimer page read, "NationalReport is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways."